Movement converter for an isodistant shifting sensor system

ABSTRACT

A device is provided for transmitting a biaxial pivoting movement of a gearshift lever ( 2 ) into a planar movement of a gearshift lever position transmitter with a guide element ( 20, 27, 31, 32 ) for limiting the movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in a noncurved plane. The device includes a transmission element ( 19, 7   a ) for transmitting a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever ( 2 ) about a first pivot axis ( 11 ) into a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in a noncurved plane, and with a hinge joint for converting a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever ( 2 ) about a second pivot axis ( 12 ) into a linear movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in the noncurved plane. The positions ( 15   a ) of the gearshift lever ( 2 ) can be detected in the noncurved plane.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of and claims the benefit (35 U.S.C. § 120 and365(c)) of copending International Application PCT/DE 2003/002282 ofJul. 8, 2003, which designated inter alia the United States and whichclaims the priority of German Application DE 102 31 015.7 of Jul. 9,2002. The entire contents of each application is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a system for the electromechanicalactuation of a transmission, especially to a system for detectinggearshift lever positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electromechanical shifting systems are used to transmit the adjustingmovement of a gearshift lever to a corresponding shift position of atransmission. Instead of the classical transmission of the gearshiftlever position via cables and gear shift linkages to the transmission, asensor system is used, which detects the particular current position ofthe gearshift lever from the cooperation of actuators and sensors. Theidentity of the gearshift lever position detected is transmitted to acontrol unit of the transmission with electric, electronic,electro-optic or other similar means and converted by the control unitinto a corresponding shifting state of the transmission. Such shiftingsystems are currently known under the name shift-by-wire. They are usedpreferably in automated manual transmissions or automatic transmissions.Automated manual transmissions can be manufactured at a lower cost andas lighter and more compact units compared with automatic transmissions.As a result and especially in connection with the high efficiency due tothe system, great significance is attached to the automated manualtransmission in the future development of motor vehicles.

The position of the gearshift lever is frequently detected inelectromechanical shifting systems with magnetically or optically actingsensors, e.g., Hall sensors, optoreflex sensors or the like. During themovement of the gearshift lever, distinction is made between twomovement spaces, which correspond to the pivoting directions of thegearshift lever about two pivot axes. The “selection” movement spacepreferably comprises a change in the gearshift lever position in a firstdirection, and the “shifting” movement space a change in the gearshiftlever position at right angles to this direction. In case of orthogonalmovement spaces, the two pivot axes are also arranged at right angles toone another, and the first direction may correspond, e.g., to thedirection of the vehicle. However, it is also possible for the firstdirection to extend at right angles to the direction of the vehicle. Theposition of a gearshift lever is correspondingly detected separately forthe two movement spaces. The shifting of the transmission selected witha certain position of the gearshift lever is obtained from thecombination of the projections of this position to the “selection” and“shifting” movement spaces.

To keep the manufacturing effort needed for an electromechanicalgearshift lever module low, the sensors for the “selection” and“shifting” movement spaces are accommodated on a single planar, i.e.,flat and noncurved printed circuit board. The actuator is mechanicallyconnected with the gearshift lever and is arranged opposite the printedcircuit board with the sensors. Since a change in the gearshift leverposition takes place due to the pivoting of the gearshift lever, theclearance between the actuator and a sensor changes with the shiftposition of the gearshift lever in this design.

The range of action of the actuators is, in general, limited verynarrowly, so that the sensors are responded to differently. If, forexample, a magnetic sensor system with a permanent magnet as theactuator is used, the activating magnetic field has a gaussiandistribution of the magnetic field contour. The width and the intensityof the distribution change with the distance from the magnet. Theswitch-on and switch-off thresholds of the magnetic field-sensitivesensors, for example, Hall sensors, are therefore different for eachshift position.

To counteract this effect, a printed circuit board may be curved suchthat the distances between the actuator and the respective sensors arekept constant in the different shifting states. However, the manufactureof a correspondingly curved printed circuit board is associated withgreat effort and therefore high manufacturing costs. As an alternative,a sensor may be designed individually for each shift position. However,this solution also leads to considerable extra costs in manufacture.

A flat sensor system can be embodied by means of a slide system carriedby the gearshift lever. This solution is very complicated in terms ofdesign and has the drawback that the tolerance chain in the detection ofthe gearshift lever position is made longer, besides the extra costscaused by this solution in the manufacture.

A technically good solution is offered by the arrangement of two planarprinted circuit boards at right angles to one another. Each of thenoncurved printed circuit boards carries here a flat sensor system foronly one of the “selection” and “shifting” movement spaces, so that thedistances between the actuators and the respective sensors do not changefor the different positions of the gearshift lever. Since each shiftposition is composed of a “selection” position combined with a“shifting” position, considerably more sensors are also necessarybetween two actuators in this solution than in a solution correspondingto the above-mentioned solution designs. Furthermore, the terminals ofthe two boards must be combined, so that the embodiment of this solutionis extremely complicated and cost-intensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The basic object of the present invention is therefore to provide asimple mechanism, which makes possible the detection of the “selection”and “shifting” movement spaces by means of a planar array of sensors ofa uniform characteristic with a minimum of tolerances.

The object is accomplished, in particular, by a device for converting abiaxial pivoting movement of a gearshift lever into a planar movement ofa gearshift lever position transmitter with a guide element to limit themovement of the gearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in anoncurved plane, with a transmission element for transmitting a pivotingmovement of the gearshift lever about a first pivot axis into a pivotingmovement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in the noncurvedplane, and a hinge joint for converting a pivoting movement of thegearshift lever about a second pivot axis into a linear movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter in the noncurved plane, so that thegearshift lever positions of the gearshift lever can be detected in thenoncurved plane.

The above object is accomplished by an electromechanical gearshift leversystem with a biaxially mounted gearshift lever, a device according tothe present invention for concerting a biaxial pivoting movement of agearshift lever into a planar movement of a gearshift lever positiontransmitter, and sensors, which are arranged in parallel to thenoncurved plane opposite the gearshift lever position transmitter fordetecting certain gearshift lever positions.

The device according to the present invention permits the use of astandard planar sensor system in an electromechanical gearshift leversystem with a low design effort.

The hinge joint is advantageously arranged to the side of the gearshiftlever for the compact design of the electromechanical gearshift leversystem.

To transmit the pivoting movements of the gearshift lever to thegearshift lever position transmitter, the first pivot axis of thegearshift lever is expediently made in the form of a bearing bolt withan end designed as a joint head for being accommodated in the gearshiftlever position transmitter. To accommodate the joint head, the gearshiftlever position transmitter advantageously has an elongated opening witha cross section geometry that essentially reflects the geometry of thejoint head at right angles to the axis of the bearing bolt with equal orlarger dimensions, so that the joint head can slide along the openingwithout transmission of force, but reliable transmission of forces isguaranteed in at least one direction at right angles hereto.

For the exclusive transmission of the pivoting movement of the firstpivot axis of the gearshift lever to the gearshift lever positiontransmitter, the joint head is preferably of a spherical shape. Ifrotation of the first pivot axis is also to be transmitted to thegearshift lever position transmitter, the joint head preferably has acylindrical geometry, and the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical jointhead is arranged essentially at right angles to the first pivot axis orthe axis of the bearing bolt. The joint head may advantageously form thetransmission element.

In a preferred embodiment, the transmission element extends around thegearshift lever at a spaced location from the first pivot axis of thegearshift lever. It expediently has a strap-shaped element for thispurpose, which extends around the gearshift lever. To reliably transmitthe desired pivoting movement and to exclude the other pivotingmovement, the strap-shaped element extends around the gearshift leversuch that the gearshift lever carries the transmission element duringpivoting about its first pivot axis and moves freely in the strap-shapedelement during pivoting about its second pivot axis.

Reliable detection of the gearshift lever positions is achieved byarranging the guide element with a defined reference to the gearshiftlever housing.

The transmission element may be mounted pivotably about a pivot pin, sothat a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever about the first pivotaxis is converted into a pivoting movement of the transmission elementin a simple manner. The geometric position of the axis of the pivot pinmay be arranged now within the alignments that can be assumed by thefirst pivot axis of the gearshift lever in order for a pivoting movementof the bearing journal to be able to be reliably transmitted to thegearshift lever position transmitter without special precautions.

Corresponding to an advantageous variant, the pivot pin may be designedto limit a movement of the transmission element to the noncurved planeand thus be part of the guide element. If necessary, a guide element mayalso be provided at the transmission element. The guide element maypreferably be formed by an opening in the transmission element, in whichcase the gearshift lever position transmitter is displaceable radiallyto the pivot axis of the transmission element.

In a preferred embodiment, the gearshift lever position transmitter hasan actuator in the form of a permanent magnet. The sensors arepreferably designed as Hall sensors.

A device according to the present invention and an electromechanicalgearshift lever system according to the present invention may be used,for example, in motor vehicles such as passenger cars or utilityvehicles.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gearshift lever mechanism for theuse of a movement converter according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a hinge joint accordingto the present invention between the first pivot axis of a gearshiftlever and the joint body;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a hinge joint according to thepresent invention according to a first embodiment (a) and a secondembodiment at a first pivot angle (b) and at a second pivot angle (c) ofthe first pivot axis of the gearshift lever mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an electromechanical gearshift lever assemblyunit with a first embodiment of a movement converter according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the path of displacement of the actuator for afirst embodiment of a movement converter according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the mechanical part of an electromechanicalgearshift lever assembly unit with a second embodiment of a movementconverter according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing the path of displacement of the actuator for asecond embodiment of a movement converter according to the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in particular, functionally equivalentelements are designated by the same reference numbers in the figures.

The general design of a gearshift lever mechanism 1, as it is used tobuild an electromechanical shifting system in motor vehicles, is shownin FIG. 1. The gearshift lever 2, whose upper end, which terminatesmostly in a vehicle shift knob, is not shown in FIG. 1, has a lockingelement 9 at its lower end, which said locking element 9 is displaceablealong the axis 10 of the gearshift lever and whose surface is designedsuch that it makes possible a locking displacement in a locking contour.The displacement of the locking element 9 in the locking contour isbrought about by pivoting the gearshift lever 2 about two pivot axes 11and 12, which are usually arranged at right angles to one another. Thelocking contour limits the movement of the gearshift lever, so that thelocking element can be displaced only along predetermined paths. Thebroken lines 15 represent an example of such a course of the path. Thecircles 15 a on the broken lines 15 indicate the position of theexemplary locking positions of the locking contour.

The first pivot axis 11 of the gearshift lever 2 is formed by a bearingbolt 3, whose axis of symmetry is preferably led through the gearshiftlever 2 at right angles to the longitudinal axis 10 of the gearshiftlever. The bearing bolt 3 may be accommodated, for example, in a throughhole of the gearshift lever 2, but it may also be arranged, having atwo-part design, at opposite points of the gearshift lever. The crosssection of the bearing bolt 3 may be provided, at least in the area inwhich it is held by the gearshift lever, with a noncircular profile forconnection secured against rotation. However, the safety againstrotation of the bearing bolt may also be achieved by means of a securingpin 6, as is shown in FIG. 1, or by a one-piece design of the gearshiftlever and the bearing bolt.

The gearshift lever 2 is mounted either at the bearing bolt 3 or it ismounted rotatably in a bracket 5, so that the gearshift lever 2 can bepivoted about the pivot axis 11 of the bearing bolt 3. Two additionalbolts 4, whose axes of symmetry form a second pivot axis 12 for thegearshift lever, are arranged at two opposite points of the bracket 5.The second pivot axis 12 is preferably arranged at right angles to thefirst pivot axis 11. The cross section profile of the bolts 4 is notnecessarily circular. However, it is suitably accommodated in a bearingshell, e.g., of a gearshift lever housing or of a support, and apivoting movement is made possible in the necessary angle range aboutthe pivot axis 12.

During their cooperation, the two pivot axes 11 and 12 form a universaljoint of a kind of cardanic mount. The movement of the locking element 9is therefore limited to a movement in a curved surface, as it isindicated by the arrows 13 and 14 in FIG. 1. If an actuator is arrangedat the locking element 9 or a component rigidly connected with thegearshift lever 2, the actuator likewise moves in a twice-curved planeduring the pivoting of the gearshift lever 2. In this case, the sensorsof a shifting sensor system must either be arranged likewise in acorrespondingly curved plane, or their response characteristic must beindividually adapted to the 15 different distances from the actuator incase of planar arrangement.

In order to guide the actuator in a planar, i.e., noncurved planeaccording to the present invention during the pivoting of the gearshiftlever 2, the actuator is movably connected with the gearshift lever 2.Two mutually independent pivoting movements, namely, about the firstpivot axis 11 and the second pivot axis 12, are now to be converted intotwo mutually independent movements of the actuator in a planar plane.

During the pivoting of the gearshift lever 2 about the first pivotingaxis 11, the gearshift lever describes an arc in the plane defined bythe second pivot axis 12 and the gearshift lever axis 10. If the bearingbolt 3 is connected with the gearshift lever 2 such that it is securedagainst rotation, this pivoting movement also leads to rotation of thebearing bolt about its axis 11. Pivoting of the gearshift lever 2 aboutthe second pivot axis 12 leads, by contrast, to a deflection or pivotingof the bearing bolt 3 about this second pivot axis 12.

Depending on the type of the connection between the bearing bolt 3 andthe gearshift lever 2, one or both pivoting movements can therefore beobtained from the bearing bolt 3. To convert the pivoting of the bearingbolt 3 into a linear displacing movement of a deflected joint body 16,one end of the bearing bolt 3 is designed as a joint head 7 or 7 a. Thejoint head 7 has a preferably circular profile in the plane defined bythe gearshift lever axis 10 and the first pivot axis 11. As is shown inthe longitudinal section in FIG. 2, a mounting opening 17 of the jointbody 16, which is shaped as an elongated opening in a joint body 16, canthus be pushed over the joint head and tilted against the pivot axis 11.

The joint body has a mounting bracket 22 for arranging an actuator.Together with the actuator, the joint body forms a gearshift leverposition transmitter.

A guide, not shown in FIG. 2, holds the joint body 16 in a plane ofdisplacement defined in space. Depending on the design requirement, thisplane of displacement may be directed in parallel or at a defined angleto the gearshift lever axis 10 in the neutral or normal position of thegearshift lever 2.

During the pivoting of the gearshift lever 2 about the second pivot axis12, the joint head 7 or 7 a moves on an arc of a circle with its centerin the intersection of the gearshift lever axis 10 and the second pivotaxis 12. Therefore, not only will the angle between the bearing boltaxis 11 and the plane of displacement of the joint body 16 change, butthe joint head will also slip deeper into the elongated bearing opening17 or back out of same depending on the direction of pivoting. The viewsa) and b) in FIG. 2 illustrate this process. To prevent the bearing bolt3 with the joint body 16 from tilting, the diameter of the joint head 7or 7 a may be selected to be correspondingly large or, as can be seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, a tapered neck 8 may be formed at the attachment of thejoint head.

However, in the form of a through hole, the bearing opening 17 may alsobe designed as a blind hole at the pushing element 16. If a pivotingmovement of the bearing bolt 3 at right angles to the longitudinaldirection 18 of the joint body 16 does not have to be divided into amovement component directed along the longitudinal direction 18 and amovement component directed at right angles thereto, the cross sectionof the bearing opening corresponds essentially to the circumferentialgeometry of the joint head 7 or 7 a, as it appears from the view in thedirection of the first pivot axis 11. The cross section geometry of thebearing opening otherwise corresponds to a circumference geometry of thejoint head stretched at right angles to the longitudinal direction 18.The joint head can thus move freely within certain limits in the bearingopening at right angles to the longitudinal direction 18 of the jointbody 16. Forces are thus transmitted only in the longitudinal directionof the joint body 16. The broadening of the bearing opening comparedwith the geometry of the joint head is obtained from the maximumpivoting angles about the first and second pivot axes. It is negligiblein the case of small pivoting angles.

Only the pivoting movement of the bearing bolt 3 is transmitted to thejoint body 16 via the joint head 7 in a first embodiment of the presentinvention. A possible rotation of the bearing bolt 3 is left unused. Thejoint head 7 therefore preferably has a spherical shape in this case.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the rotary movement ofthe bearing bolt 3 is additionally converted into a rotation of thejoint body 16 about the first pivot axis 11. The geometry of thecircumference of the joint head 7 a at right angles to the first pivotaxis 11 deviates markedly in this case from the geometry of a circle.The joint head geometries used are preferably rotationally symmetricalbodies deviating from the spherical shape, wherein the rotation axis ofsymmetry extends at right angles to the pivot axis 11. For example,polygons with even numbers of sides, ellipses or the like may be used ascircumference geometries.

The operating principle of the torque transmission is illustrated in theviews in FIG. 3. In case of a spherical design of the joint head 7, arotation of the bearing bolt 3 about its axis 11 is not transmitted tothe joint body 16, so that the longitudinal direction 18 of the jointbody 16 maintains its position unchanged (FIG. 3 a). If a nonspherical,rotationally symmetrical joint head 7 a, such as the cylindrical jointhead according to FIGS. 3 b and 3 c, is used, the rotary movement of thebearing bolt is converted, in contrast, into a corresponding deflectionof the joint body 16. The deflection of the longitudinal direction 18from the start position corresponds to the angle of rotation of thebearing bolt 3.

FIG. 4 shows a view of a gearshift lever assembly unit 25 with amovement converter according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. The core of the assembly unit 25 is a gearshift lever 2,which is mounted in a universal joint as described in reference toFIG. 1. The locking element 9 at the lower end of the gearshift leverengages a locking contour 23, so that the gearshift lever 2 can be movedonly between defined positions 26. A gearshift lever housing 24accommodates the gearshift lever mechanism. Bearing shells, in which thebolts 4 of the universal joint are mounted rotatably, are formed on thehousing 24. The locking contour 23, the device according to the presentinvention for converting the movement of the gearshift lever, as well asthe sensor system, not shown in the figure, are located in the gearshiftlever housing 24.

The joint body 16 is arranged, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 a, at thejoint head 7. It has an elongated shape, the longitudinal direction 18being arranged radially to the first pivot axis of the gearshift lever.The joint body 16 is accommodated in an elongated opening 20 of atransmission element 19 extending around it. It can be displaced alongthe longitudinal direction of the opening 20. The transmission element19 is mounted pivotably with a pivot pin 27 at a wall of the gearshiftlever housing 24. The geometric position of the axis of the pivot pin 27is arranged within the directions or positions that can be assumed bythe first pivot axis 11. The mounting of the pivot pin 27 at, e.g., thegearshift lever housing 24 may be designed as a rigid or linearlydisplaceable mounting. In case of linear displaceability, the directionof displacement follows the pivoting movement of the bearing bolt 3.

An opening in the transmission element 19 opposite the pivot pin 27permits the bearing bolt 3 with the joint head 7 to be passed through.The dimensions of the opening permit the unhindered pivoting of thebearing bolt 3 within the area predetermined by the locking contour.Pivoting of the bearing bolt 3 about the second pivot axis 12 isconverted by this arrangement into a linear displacement of the jointbody 16 along the longitudinal direction of the opening 20 in thetransmission element 19. The longitudinal direction of the opening 20coincides with the longitudinal direction 18 of the joint body 16.

A strap 21, which extends around the gearshift lever in its lower area,is arranged at the transmission element 19 at a spaced location from theaxis of the pivot pin 27. As an alternative, the strap 21 may alsoextend around the gearshift lever in its upper area. The strap has anelongated eye, through which the gearshift lever 2 is passed. The widthof the eye of the strap is directed in parallel to the second pivot axis12 of the gearshift lever 2 and corresponds essentially to the diameteror the width of the gearshift lever. The length of the eye of the strapis directed in parallel to the first pivot axis 11 of the gearshiftlever 2 and permits the unhindered pivoting of the gearshift lever 2about the second pivot axis for all the positions 26 set by the lockingcontour 23.

If the gearshift lever 2 is pivoted about the first pivot axis 11, itcarries the transmission element 19 at the strap 21 and thus pivots itabout the axis of the pivot pin 27. An actuator arranged in a mountingbracket 22 of the joint body 16 correspondingly describes an arc in aplane of displacement at right angles to the axis of the pivot pin 27.By contrast, pivoting of the gearshift lever 2 about the second pivotaxis 12 brings about a longitudinal displacement of the joint body 16 inthe opening 20 of the transmission element 19 and hence a displacementof the actuator radially to the axis of the pivot pin 27. Since thepivot pin 27 is arranged at the transmission element 19, the actuatorcannot now leave the plane of displacement. The shifting paths 15indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1 are thus converted into thedisplacement paths 29 of the actuator which are shown in FIG. 5. Therings 29 a indicate the position of the actuator in the locked positions15 a of the gearshift lever 2. If the locking contour 23 limits thepivoting movements of the bearing bolt 3 to a deflection of the jointhead 7 in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the opening 20in the transmission element 19 for receiving the joint body 16, as isshown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the cross section of the bearing opening 17 canbe adapted to the geometry of the circumference of the joint head 7without stretching, because no movement components directed at rightangles to the longitudinal direction 18 occur.

FIG. 6 shows a gearshift lever assembly unit 30 with a device forconverting a biaxial pivoting movement of a gearshift lever 2 accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention. The joint body 16 hasat one end a bearing opening 17 with different dimensions at rightangles to and along its longitudinal extension 18. The joint head 7 ahas a cylindrical shape in the example being shown and is accommodatedin the bearing opening 17 with the axis of symmetry of the joint head 7a at right angles to the longitudinal direction 18. The cross section ofthe bearing opening 17 corresponds to the geometry of the circumferenceof the joint head 7 a in its view in the direction of the first pivotaxis 11.

The second end of the joint body 16 is guided in the eye of a strap 31such that the movement of the joint body 16 is limited to the plane ofdisplacement determined by the longitudinal wall 32 of the strap. Thebearing bolt 3 is rigidly connected with the gearshift lever.

Pivoting of the gearshift lever 2 about the first pivot axis 11 bringsabout a pivoting of the joint body 16 about this pivot axis 11 in theplane of displacement defined by the longitudinal wall 32 of the strap.Pivoting of the gearshift lever 2 about the second pivot axis 12 bringsabout a pivoting of the bearing bolt about this axis 12. The joint head7 a thus moves on an arc of a circle with the pivot axis 12 as itscenter. The movement component directed at right angles to the plane ofdisplacement leads to a displacement of the joint head 7 a in thebearing opening 17 at right angles to the plane of displacement and doesnot change as a result the position of the joint body 16. The movementcomponent directed in parallel to the plane of displacement brings abouta vertical displacement of the joint body in this plane.

The shifting paths 15 indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1 are thusconverted into the displacement paths 28 of the actuator which are shownin FIG. 7. The rings 28 a indicate the position of the actuator in thelocked positions 15 a of the gearshift lever 2. Contrary to the firstembodiment of the present invention, the broken lines 33 connecting thepositions of the actuator are directed in parallel and not inclined inrelation to one another at equal pivoting angle of the gearshift lever 2about the first pivot axis 11 but different pivoting angle about thesecond pivot axis 12.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

APPENDIX

List of Reference Numbers:

-   1 Gearshift lever mechanism-   2 Gearshift lever-   3 Bearing bolt-   4 Bolt-   5 Bracket-   6 Securing pin-   7,7 a Joint head-   8 Tapered neck-   9 Locking element-   10 Gearshift lever axis-   11 First pivot axis-   12 Second pivot axis-   13,14 Arrow-   15 Course of path-   16 Joint body-   17 Bearing opening-   18 Longitudinal direction-   19 Transmission element-   20 Opening-   21,31 Strap-   22 Mounting opening-   23 Locking contour-   24 Gearshift lever housing-   25,30 Gearshift lever assembly unit-   26 Defined positions-   27 Pivot pin-   28,29 Paths of displacement of actuator-   28 a,29 aPosition of actuator-   32 Longitudinal wall of strap

1. A device for converting a biaxial pivoting movement of a gearshiftlever into a planar movement of a gearshift lever position transmitter,the device comprising: a guide element for limiting the movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in a noncurved plane;a transmission element for transmitting a pivoting movement of thegearshift lever about a first pivot axis into a pivoting movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurved plane, whereinthe pivot axis of the gearsshift lever is designed as a bearing boltwith an end designed as a joint head for being accommodated in thegearshift lever position transmitter; and a hinge joint for converting apivoting movement of the gearshift lever about a second pivot axis intoa movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurvedplane, so that the positions of the gearshift lever can be detected insaid noncurved plane.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe hinge joint is arranged to the side of the gearshift lever.
 3. Adevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmission elementextends around the gearshift lever at a spaced location from the firstpivot axis of the gearshift lever.
 4. A device in accordance with claim3, wherein said transmission element has a strap-shaped element forextending around the gearshift lever.
 5. A device in accordance withclaim 4, wherein the strap-shaped element extends around the gearshiftlever such that the gearshift lever carries said transmission elementduring pivoting about said first pivot axis and moves freely in thestrap-shaped element during pivoting about said second pivot axis.
 6. Adevice in accordance with claim 3, wherein said transmission element ismounted pivotably about a pivot pin.
 7. A device in accordance withclaim 6, wherein the geometric position of the axis of the pivot pin isarranged within the directions that can be assumed by the first pivotaxis of the gearshift lever.
 8. A device in accordance with claim 6,wherein the pivot pin is designed to limit the movement of saidtransmission element to said noncurved plane.
 9. A device in accordancewith claim 8, wherein a guide element is provided at said transmissionelement.
 10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said guideelement is formed by an opening in said transmission element, in whichthe gearshift lever position transmitter is displaceable radially to thepivot axis of said transmission element.
 11. A device for converting abiaxial pivoting movement of a gearshift lever into a planar movement ofa gearshift lever position transmitter, the device comprising: a guideelement for limiting the movement of the gearshift lever positiontransmitter to a movement in a noncurved plane; a transmission elementfor transmitting a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever about afirst pivot axis into a pivoting movement of the gearshift leverposition transmitter in said noncurved plane, wherein the pivot axis ofthe gearshift lever is designed as a bearing bolt with an end designedas a joint head for being accommodated in the gearshift lever positiontransmitter; and a hinge joint for converting a pivoting movement of thegearshift lever about a second pivot axis into a movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurved plane, so thatthe positions of the gearshift lever can be detected in said noncurvedplane, wherein to accommodate the joint head, the gearshift leverposition transmitter has an elongated opening with a cross sectiongeometry that reflects essentially the geometry of the joint head atright angles to the axis of the bearing bolt at equal or largerdimensions.
 12. A device for converting a biaxial pivoting movement of agearshift lever into a planar movement of a gearshift lever positiontransmitter, the device comprising: a guide element for limiting themovement of the gearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in anoncurved plane; a transmission element for transmitting a pivotingmovement of the gearshift lever about a first pivot axis into a pivotingmovement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurvedplane, wherein the pivot axis of the gearshift lever is designed as abearing bolt with an end designed as a joint head for being accommodatedin the gearshift lever position transmitter, said joint head having aspherical shape; and a hinge joint for converting a pivoting movement ofthe gearshift lever about a second pivot axis into a movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurved plane, so thatthe positions of the gearshift lever can be detected in said noncurvedplane.
 13. A device for converting a biaxial pivoting movement of agearshift lever into a planar movement of a gearshift lever positiontransmitter, the device comprising: a guide element for limiting themovement of the gearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in anoncurved plane; a transmission element for transmitting a pivotingmovement of the gearshift lever about a first pivot axis into a pivotingmovement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurvedplane, said transmission element extending around the gearshift lever ata spaced location from the first pivot axis of the gearshift lever, saidtransmission element having a strap-shaped element for extending aroundthe gearshift lever, said strap-shaped element extending around thegearshift lever such that the gearshift lever carries said transmissionelement during pivoting about said first pivot axis and moves freely inthe strap-shaped element during pivoting about said second pivot axis;and a hinge joint for converting a pivoting movement of the gearshiftlever about a second pivot axis into a movement of the gearshift leverposition transmitter in said noncurved plane, so that the positions ofthe gearshift lever can be detected in said noncurved plane.
 14. Adevice for converting a biaxial pivoting movement of a gearshift leverinto a planar movement of a gearshift lever position transmitter, thedevice comprising: a guide element for limiting the movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in a noncurved plane;a transmission element for transmitting a pivoting movement of thegearshift lever about a first pivot axis into a pivoting movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurved plane, saidtransmission element extending around the gearshift lever at a spacedlocation from the first pivot axis of the gearshift lever, saidtransmission element being mounted pivotably about a pivot pin; and ahinge joint for converting a pivoting movement of the gearshift leverabout a second pivot axis into a movement of the gearshift leverposition transmitter in said noncurved plane, so that the positions ofthe gearshift lever can be detected in said noncurved plane.
 15. Adevice for converting a biaxial pivoting movement of a gearshift leverinto a planar movement of a gearshift lever position transmitter, thedevice comprising: a guide element for limiting the movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in a noncurved plane;a transmission element for transmitting a pivoting movement of thegearshift lever about a first pivot axis into a pivoting movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurved plane, saidtransmission element extending around the gearshift lever at a spacedlocation from the first pivot axis of the gearshift lever, saidtransmission element being mounted pivotably about a pivot pin, whereinthe geometric position of the axis of the pivot pin is arranged withinthe directions that can be assumed by the first pivot axis of thegearshift lever; and a hinge joint for converting a pivoting movement ofthe gearshift lever about a second pivot axis into a movement of thegearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurved plane, so thatthe positions of the gearshift lever can be detected in said noncurvedplane.
 16. A device for converting a biaxial pivoting movement of agearshift lever into a planar movement of a gearshift lever positiontransmitter, the device comprising: a guide element for limiting themovement of the gearshift lever position transmitter to a movement in anoncurved plane; a transmission element for transmitting a pivotingmovement of the gearshift lever about a first pivot axis into a pivotingmovement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurvedplane, said transmission element extending around the gearshift lever ata spaced location from the first pivot axis of the gearshift lever, saidtransmission element being mounted pivotably about a pivot pin, whereinsaid pivot pin is designed to limit the movement of said transmissionelement to said noncurved plane; and a hinge joint for converting apivoting movement of the gearshift lever about a second pivot axis intoa movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in said noncurvedplane, so that the positions of the gearshift lever can be detected insaid noncurved plane.
 17. A device for converting a biaxial pivotingmovement of a gearshift lever into a planar movement of a gearshiftlever position transmitter, the device comprising: a guide element forlimiting the movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter to amovement in a noncurved plane; a transmission element for transmitting apivoting movement of the gearshift lever about a first pivot axis into apivoting movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in saidnoncurved plane, said transmission element extending around thegearshift lever at a spaced location from the first pivot axis of thegearshift lever, said transmission element being mounted pivotably abouta pivot pin, said pivot pin being designed to limit the movement of saidtransmission element to said noncurved plane, wherein a guide element isprovided at said transmission element; and a hinge joint for convertinga pivoting movement of the gearshift lever about a second pivot axisinto a movement of the gearshift lever position transmitter in saidnoncurved plane, so that the positions of the gearshift lever can bedetected in said noncurved plane.
 18. A device for converting a biaxialpivoting movement of a gearshift lever into a planar movement of agearshift lever position transmitter, the device comprising: a guideelement for limiting the movement of the gearshift lever positiontransmitter to a movement in a noncurved plane; a transmission elementfor transmitting a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever about afirst pivot axis into a pivoting movement of the gearshift leverposition transmitter in said noncurved plane, said transmission elementextending around the gearshift lever at a spaced location from the firstpivot axis of the gearshift lever, said transmission element beingmounted pivotably about a pivot pin, said pivot pin being designed tolimit the movement of said transmission element to said noncurved plane,wherein a guide element is provided at said transmission element, saidguide element being formed by an opening in said transmission element,in which the gearshift lever position transmitter is displaceableradially to the pivot axis of said transmission element; and a hingejoint for converting a pivoting movement of the gearshift lever about asecond pivot axis into a movement of the gearshift lever positiontransmitter in said noncurved plane, so that the positions of thegearshift lever can be detected in said noncurved plane.